5 Steps To Starting A Website
Running a business these days means having a great website in place. No business can survive without a strong online presence. Here are the five steps to take if you want to create a new website for your business.
- 1) Start On Paper
When planning a new website, the process has to start in your mind and on paper. You need to ask yourself what you want the website to achieve. Are you using it to publicize the business? Or to generate online sales? The way that the website is designed will depend on what you want from it. So make sure that you plan everything out and make all the key decisions before you even think about taking any further steps.
- 2) Pick A Host
To choose the best hosting for a website, you need to compare all the options open to you. There’s no sense in choosing the first hosting company you come across. There are numerous options out there. You need to compare the prices, as well as many other features. Make sure that they give you the level of protection and support you need to keep your website alive and active as much as possible. The cheaper deals might be attractive, but if they don’t offer you support around the clock, it can be a false economy.
- 3) Hire A Developer
For people without web design skills, there are a couple of options. You can take the simple and safe option of using a site like WordPress. They have many templates that you can use, but this doesn’t make for a very original or unique website. Alternatively, you could hire a developer who can do all the work for you. They have the necessary skills to create a website that is one of a kind. If you work closely alongside them, you should be able to create exactly the kind of website you’re looking for.
- 4) Put Branding Front And Center
Your website needs to say something about your business. That’s why the first thing people should see when they log onto your website is the company name and logo. This immediately lets people know where they are and what the business does. Make sure that it’s instantly obvious what your business does and what you have to offer people who are visiting the website for the first time. If it looks modern and appealing, people might stick around and find out even more.
- 5) Maintain The Website
If you’re using a simple software package to run your website, it shouldn’t be too difficult to make changes. As time passes, you will want to update the content on your website and add new features. Don’t let your website become out of date as people may start to think that it’s inactive, and that might cause them to look elsewhere. Maintain contact with the person who designed the website. Start to learn some HTML or learn how to use software like automated testing tools in order to maintain your own site. That way, you can ask them to add new features if you don’t know how to do this yourself.
